consciousness

noun

con·​scious·​ness ˈkän(t)-shəs-nəs 

1

a

: the quality or state of being aware especially of something within oneself

b

: the state or fact of being conscious of an external object, state, or fact

c

: awareness

especially : concern for some social or political cause

The organization aims to raise the political consciousness of teenagers.

2

: the state of being characterized by sensation, emotion, volition, and thought : mind

3

: the totality of conscious states of an individual

4

: the normal state of conscious life

regained consciousness

5

: the upper level of mental life of which the person is aware as contrasted with unconscious processes

Synonyms of consciousness

• awareness
• attention
• mindfulness

Examples of consciousness in a Sentence

The medication caused her to enter an altered state of consciousness.

The events have become part of the national consciousness.

He hopes that he can raise public consciousness of the disease.

Recent Examples on the Web

The most concerning scenario is a slow-moving catastrophe that never fully enters public consciousness due to largely absent data. —Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026

So was her consciousness, and thus, much of her beauty, which had always been undomesticated — sunlight on water. —Eli Raphael, PEOPLE, 10 May 2026

The inability to provide adequate oxygen and remove CO₂ from the air would lead first to confusion, panic and eventually the loss of consciousness. —Alan Bradley, Space.com, 8 May 2026

In 2020, a visiting neuroscientist conducts a series of experiments into the possibilities of botanical consciousness. —Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 8 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

see conscious entry 1

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing consciousness

• consciousness-raising
• hyper-consciousness
• lose consciousness
• regain consciousness
• social consciousness
• stream of consciousness
• unself-consciousness

Rhymes for consciousness

• unconsciousness

Kids Definition

consciousness

noun

con·​scious·​ness ˈkän-chəs-nəs 

1

: the condition of being conscious

2

: the normal state of conscious life in contrast to sleep or an insensible state

3

: the part of mental life that involves conscious thought and awareness

Medical Definition

consciousness

noun

con·​scious·​ness ˈkän-chə-snəs 

1

: the totality in psychology of sensations, perceptions, ideas, attitudes, and feelings of which an individual or a group is aware at any given time or within a given time span

altered states of consciousness, such as sleep, dreaming and hypnosis

—Bob Gaines

2

: waking life (as that to which one returns after sleep, trance, or fever) in which one's normal mental powers are present

the ether wore off and the patient regained consciousness

3

: the upper part of mental life of which the person is aware as contrasted with unconscious processes